Geno Auriemma Says Caitlin Clark Was 'Set Up For Failure' In WNBA By 'Delusional' Fans
Since signing a massive five-year contract extension to remain the head coach of the UConn Huskies women's basketball team, head coach Geno Auriemma is making the media rounds. One of the biggest topics of discussion? Caitlin Clark and the WNBA, of course.
Given that Auriemma knows Clark well from her four years in college hoops, including losing to her and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Final Four, it's a natural discussion topic.
Plus, Auriemma knows the landscape of women's basketball better than almost anyone else. He's been the head coach at Connecticut since 1985 and was the head coach of the United States women's basketball team from 2009-16, winning two Olympic gold medals.
On Wednesday, the Hartford Courant published a story in which they interviewed Auriemma. In that interview, Auriemma said that Clark was being "targeted" by WNBA veterans, and it goes beyond the usual rookie treatment.
"Every rookie has to go through the growing pains of being a professional basketball player," Auriemma said. "Is she facing the rookie challenge, the rookie hardships that are inherent with being a rookie? Yes. She’s also being targeted."
Those are strong words from Auriemma, but not a surprise. It's clear to almost everyone that Clark is facing tough treatment from WNBA opponents and doesn't seem to be getting support from her Indiana Fever teammates.
UConn Huskies women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma (pictured) thinks Caitlin Clark is being targeted by players in the WNBA.
(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Auriemma continued, saying that he's happy that women's basketball is getting the spotlight, but that he doesn't care for the treatment Caitlin Clark is receiving for her part in massively growing the interest.
"[The attention is] long overdue, but why are you blaming [Clark]? It’s not her fault. You would trade places with her in a minute, but you’re not there, you’re not her, so you’re [complaining] that she’s getting what she’s getting," he said.
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Then, he specifically talked about Chennedy Carter, who committed a flagrant foul on Clark that many people would call a "cheap shot."
"The kid that knocked her out? That’s the only time she’s ever been on TV, and the only time she’s ever been interviewed by reporters. ‘Hey, I’m not answering any Caitlin Clark questions.’ That’s just junior high stuff," he said.
That's correct. No one knew who Chennedy Carter was before that foul. She's certainly aware that she's getting attention for the first time, and she's not handling it particularly well. But that happens when people get attention for the first time.
Geno Auriemma thinks college basketball fans set Caitlin Clark up for failure in the WNBA.
On Thursday, Auriemma appeared on the "Dan Patrick Show" where he talked about, you guessed it, Caitlin Clark. In this interview, though, he took a different path.
UConn Huskies women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma thinks fans of Caitlin Clark (pictured) set her up for failure at the beginning of her WNBA career.
(Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Clark is struggling on the court in her first WNBA season as she adjusts to the professional game after playing in college. Though her counting stats look good, and she won WNBA Rookie of the Month, she's not lighting up the scoreboard like she did in college.
Auriemma thinks that the publicity she received prior to joining the WNBA, particularly from rabid Clark fans, hurt her chances of having a successful start.
"If you're a college player, and you're a great college player like Caitlin was, the delusional fanbase that follows her disrespected the WNBA players by saying she's going to go in that league and tear it apart," he said.
"These people are so disrespectful, and so unknowledgeable, and so stupid that it gives women's basketball a bad name … the kid was set up for failure right from the beginning."
Auriemma makes a lot of good points, some of which were echoed by Bob Costas when OutKick spoke with him earlier this week. There are many layers to this discussion. Some players don't like Clark because of the hype, some don't like her because of her skin color, some don't like her for any number of reasons.
But it's clear that many players just flat-out don't like Caitlin Clark. Part of that is manifesting on the court, and many of these women are out to prove that they are better players than she is, particularly at this juncture in her young career. That's not unlike what we often see when rookies come into a professional league with a lot of hype.
However, what's happening with Clark is definitely going above-and-beyond the usual treatment for star rookies. Good for Geno Auriemma for stating the obvious, while some people just try to pretend that isn't happening at all.